I woke up remembering Little Mouse and the quiet time we had with him. Even as I remembered, I was gentled. Penny was still asleep beside me, but if I moved to scratch the itch above my left eye, she would awaken. She mystified me as how quickly she could go from dead sleep to full alert. I needed my Peet’s to even begin. But the itch won, and even with my eyes shut there was no fooling her. She scooted up and put her nose to mine, “times up,” was her vote. Ok, let’s begin. 

Later after we had some breakfast, she had done her business—both personal and professional, checking out her backyard turf—it was time to go find what awaited us today. Leashed up, out the door we went. 

Stepping in was an experience, like a bath in seltzer water or a bubble machine. The air, the life moving under my feet, the energy moving in the bushes and trees and the bird, bee and bug sounds. I was stepping out of a dying world into a living one. No longer did I struggle with reality, the Pond Place was more real now than where I worked and slept. I carried the memories of my time here, and I could access them anytime I wanted. Jesus was but a breath away. I was ok with him listening in to my thoughts, at least 93% of the time. Once in a while I could catch a bit of his thoughts toward me. I was working on increasing the amount. He would often surprise me by interrupting me. I tucked those messages in my heart. 

Penny was off and running, making the rounds. I moved deeper in. Aslan and Bear meandered onto the path, waiting for the greeting rituals. This time I went to Bear and said I wanted a hug. Now, I imagine he did not understand what I said, but he got the message. He stood up on his hind legs, towering over me. My nose hit about mid-chest. He put his big strong arms/legs(?) around me and hugged. Not too little or too much, but just right. I rested my cheek against his chest and pulled his scent in. I wanted to remember how he is. My Peet’s reminded me of him. An extra delight. Then he surprised me by picking me up! I put my arms around his neck and snuggled in. This was a real bear hug. Ahaaaa……

When I arrived at the Pond, Penny and Aslan were waiting. She was greeting the frogs as was her custom, so as Bear put me down, we settled in to wait for the Lord. Enjoying the sounds and flavors of the Place I was in no hurry. I could not imagine any where else I wanted to be. My safe place.

Then oddly, the forest grew quiet, and the frogs suddenly exited, splashing as they went. Hum…? Aslan stood up and, I swear, got bigger. He just increased in size. Fur was standing up, his mane grew bigger and framed his head. His tail was straight out behind him. His nose was twitching like Penny’s did when she was scenting. Deep within him came a low growl. Now I was anxious. What was up. “Lord, where are you?”

Bear also stood up, grew larger and had a growl. His claws were unsheathed. He came and stood behind me. “Jesus?” Penny seemed unaffected by all this, or oblivious. She was her usual curious self. She ran out to the crossroads, and up the wide path that went to the right behind the Pond. I had not been down that way yet, so wondered what she was sensing. She suddenly gave a yelp and a whine and came running back at full tilt. She ran and stood under Aslan. Safer than with me.

Jesus came walking quickly from where Penny had just been, even odder that she did not run to him for her hug and snuggle. I had not seen him walk quickly before, he never seemed like he was in a hurry. He stepped into the Pond Place grassy area, turned, and stood in the middle of the path in, his back to us. Ok, now I am really anxious. He stood bigger and strong with his feet apart, on guard. 

I felt, before I heard, them coming. The living ground under my bare feet went hard. Stunned, I jumped. Then the rumbling, pounding, vibrating began. Harder and more intolerable and then I could hear something or somethings coming down the path towards us. Penny was whimpering. I spoke strongly to myself out of what I knew to be absolutely true. That maybe it was dangerous but there is no way it could harm any of us with Jesus standing guard. His power was mightier than any, ANY other power anywhere. And this is his turf. And, he would not be allowing this to happen without his permission. I remember him saying that he had summoned Cloud to come for me. Perhaps this was another such summons meant for me, for some good reason. Ok, bring it on…. I felt him smile.

Then I could smell them. Penny put her nose down between her paws, crying. It must be awful for her. Aslan stepped aside and leaned down, picked her up in his great mouth like a mama lioness, turned and dropped her in my outstretched arms. She put her head in my armpit, sighed and relaxed just a bit. She stopped crying and whimpering. 

Then they came. Dinosaurs! All kinds, sizes, shapes and colors—and most likely odors, but I could not differentiate, didn’t want to try. And they kept on coming, and coming. My nose shut down and I could not smell anything. Penny was quivering, so I put my hand over her ear and held her closer. “Good girl, it’s ok, good girl.” Not sure it helped. My fear vanished and I became interested in the display. Not at that moment thinking about how this could not be, as they were all dead. 

There were the long-necked herbivores, little chicken sized meat eaters; one that was about 60 feet long and 30 feet tall; T-Rex was obvious; and another lumbering one about 100 tons. The ground was jumping from its walk. It was hard to keep my balance. One that had big tooth shaped pointy things along its back, down the tail. Huge body, small head and neck. Striped. Legs like a small elephant, but not a big one. One with a reddish horn thing going back from its nose, over its head and out over its neck. I wondered what it ate. There were so many colors. Scales, striped, spotted. Like snake skins. Reptiles. 

Some had feet and legs like elephants. Some had big muscular hind legs with short front ones with nasty looking claws. They had scaly armor with long tails. Muscular back legs were impressive as they were hopping or walking, even running. Three toed. No ears, just holes. Heads looked like snakes. One had a plume made of scales at the end of its tail. They had big mouths with lots and lots of teeth. 

The parade, as I had come to think of it, kept moving from our right to left down the path were I had gone on horseback. It took awhile for them all to pass. There were so many of them. Some moved fast, others lumbered. Some noticed us but did nothing. One long-necked one, plants or meat(?), leaned in to look at me more closely. I smiled and nodded, but its eyes were not friendly. The last one slowly came into view. It was medium sized and was big and squat, like a tank or a rhino, with a hooked snout and big flaring wings back from sides of face. It was armor plated and looked like nothing could stop it or push it over. It stopped and looked us over and began to turn towards me. Jesus merely waved his hand, and it moved on. 

Slowly the earth was still, and began to come alive. I welcomed it as I felt grounded again. The forest song returned, even the frogs. Penny pulled out her nose, looked up  and licked my chin. I put her down and she shook all over. Bear went back to all fours and Aslan had a drink from the Pond and lay down. Penny joined him, spent.

Jesus turned with a grin, “like the parade? I wanted you to have a real surprise.”

“I was. But there was more to it than that.” 

“Yes, you did exactly as I expected you too, you told yourself the truth, truth that is greater than facts. All of us were responding to the facts, there was a parade of extinct creatures, with smells, sights, and sensations. Facts. Experience. Bizarre circumstance.  But even though Aslan, Bear, Penny, and you went on alert, you remembered that there could be no danger because I was here. In your dying world there will always be facts. I want you to remember that I am Truth, more than even the sum of facts.”

With that, he came over, took my face in his hands, kissed my forehead, and said, “go in peace my child.” And he was gone.

Penny and I walked slowly home that day. Spent, but I had a heart full of new memories. As I was hanging up her leash, something fell out of my pocket. I bent over to get it before my little sweetie could retrieve it. It was a plastic dinosaur. I smiled, sensing his, and put it on my kitchen windowsill. And it is still there.

Day Ten  

I was working upstairs on the computer entering data into iBank when Penny appeared. She often would come and see what I was doing and then go elsewhere, crawl under the desk and sleep, or sleep in the room somewhere. This time was different. She was whining, pawing at my leg, and then running to the office door. 

“Lie down” I ordered. No compliance, in fact now she added barks to her pawing at my leg then running to the door. It dawned on me that something was up. “Ok, what’s up,” I said getting up and following her to the door. With a happy yelp, she raced downstairs to her leash. 

“Ah, you know something I don’t. Seems like it is time for us to go.” And so we did. 

Walking in, I spotted Aslan and Bear waiting at the crossroads. When we walked to meet them, they turned and disappeared to the right. This is the way the dinosaurs went. Not so sure about this, but there was no way I was going to miss out on what surprises he had planned for us. 

We followed them and entered the meadow where we had gone horseback riding. Penny was already scouting and ran to where the pair was waiting. They had gone in and sat down by the stream, next to the rocky hill. I walked over to them saw that they were guarding a flat rock that was acting like a table. On it was a pitcher of water with a glass, a bunch of red grapes and some yellow cheese. There was even a dog biscuit for Penny. 

I looked around at the lush green pasture, full of life and color. There were flowers everywhere. I could see them growing if I didn’t blink. I recognized hollyhocks, primroses, nasturtiums, and my mom’s favorite—lily-of-the-valley. Roses bloomed, climbers and bushes. Violets, and so many more whose names I did not know. The combination of scents was not cloying but energizing. The blend was perfect. The grass under my feet was dark green and wiggled a little from the life in the ground. It was enchanting. The connection to David’s song was not lost on me. 

I turned back to the rocks to find him perched up higher on the hillside. “Do you approve?” 

“Lord, it is perfect. Thank you for the treat for Penny.” He smiled as I called to her.

She saw that I had something for to eat, came running and chewed it up quickly. I took my time with my treat. The water was bubbling with vitality. I could feel it like a living thing in my tummy and as it spread out in my body. A strange but delightful sensation. The grapes were sweet and crisp. The cheese was of a kind that has no earthly home. It reminded me of Heidi eating cheese in her grandfather’s loft. I could imagine that it might have tasted almost this good. It was amazing. Even though I wanted more, I was satisfied. “I give you thanks and praise for your provision.”